Rumblings in Haryana BJP as Anil Vij faces heat over salvos against CM Saini, state chief

The show-cause in Hindi said: “You (Vij) are informed that recently you have given statements in public against the Chief Minister and state party president. These are serious allegations and it is against the party’s policies and internal discipline”.

The notice issued to Vij also stated: “Your step was not only against the BJP’s ideology, but was also taken at a time when the party was campaigning for elections in a neighbouring state (Delhi). You knew that such statements made during the elections despite holding a respectable ministerial post would damage the party’s image. Such an act is completely unacceptable.”

BJP sources said party national president J P Nadda was also apprised of Vij’s “objectionable remarks”, following which the show-cause notice was issued to him.

Badoli’s notice to Vij underlines that “You are being issued a show-cause notice as per the directions issued by the national party president. It is expected of you that you will reply to this notice in writing within three days”.

Despite repeated attempts, Vij could not be reached for his comment.

In the wake of the October 2024 Haryana Assembly polls – in which the incumbent BJP pulled off a hat-trick, handing a shock defeat to the Congress – Vij has been alleging that “certain forces attempted to ensure his defeat” in his Ambala Cantonment constituency, where he won by over 7,200 votes. A seven-term MLA, Vij is currently holding the portfolios of energy, transport and labour in the Saini Cabinet.

However, since the beginning of Saini’s second term as the CM, Vij has remained upset and aggressive over various issues, reprimanding bureaucrats and even issuing suspension orders against some officials for allegedly being “negligent” in their duties.

Last month, Vij targeted Saini, telling reporters: “Our CM never comes down from his flying chariot. Since the day he (Saini) became the CM, he has been flying. If he comes down to the ground, he would have heard the sufferings of the people. This is not just my voice – it is the voice of all MLAs, MPs, and ministers.”

Saini was then busy campaigning for the BJP candidates in the Delhi elections, which the party also clinched after 27 years.

Vij then sharpened his attack on Saini and other BJP leaders. “During the Haryana elections, a senior party leader tried to ensure my defeat and even orchestrated an assault on me. Within a week of winning the elections, I publicly raised the issue of those who played a role in trying to defeat me. They were officials, employees or minor political figures. Yet, no action was taken against them”, he charged.

Vij also discontinued his “Janta Darbar” citing “non-compliance of his orders by the officials” and even threatened that, if need be, he would also do an agitation like farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.

He also took on Badoli after a gangrape case was registered against the latter and Rocky Mittal, a singer and ex-state BJP publicity cell chief, in Himachal Pradesh’s Kasauli. Both Badoli and Rocky Mittal have rejected such allegations as “baseless”.

Vij however maintained that “Badoli should resign from his post since the allegations against him are serious” and that he hoped “the party central leadership would take appropriate action against him”. He was the only state BJP leader to have come out against Badoli in the matter.

On February 4, the BJP’s Haryana in-charge Satish Poonia met Vij in Chandigarh after the state cabinet meeting where the latter reached late.

After his two-hour-long meeting with Poonia, Vij said, “I have conveyed my points to him (Poonia). There is nothing more that I can disclose at this stage. All will be well.”